Photo Journaling documenting your memories

As a scrapbooking my journaling tends to include a lot of photos. I started to keep a journal specific to the Covid 19 Pandemic. I thought it would be a great way to document what was happening, after all this is an historic, unprecedented event. I had several of these blank travelers notebooks which are about 4.25”x8.25” on each page and decided it was the right size for my creation. Tiny photos? Yup I print the images I want as a 4×6” collage photo and cut them out. It’s very economical.

Below are images from my actual journal. I have just completed all of 2020 and ended up filling up 4 of these travelers’ notebooks. If you google travelers notebooks on Pinterest there are tons if idea. What did I include in mine?

Things like doing things like walking on the empty beaches of Cape Cod visiting my family. We had been quarantining on both sides.

What books I read. I have several pages like this and include things like shows everyone was talking about and watching. I admit I did a lot of reading. Some of it was on audio as I walked. I was working from home full time and started using my normal commuting time to walk.

Another favorite journal find for me was full sheet sticker paper. I used it to print the book covers and also to print funny memes. I would print one full sheet which I made up in a word document and a few weeks of photos and do a couple weeks at a time from my calendar list of what happened when.

I journaled the challenge of trying to home school kids while working from home. This was the ultimate challenge for working mom’s in 2020. My daughter was in high school so she handles most of that herself but had some challenging health issues which entailed 4 surgeries in 2020 so it wasn’t without its challenges. I admit Bake Shop was my favorite class and the lab on cinnamon buns tasted great.

Trying to do fun things with friends during a pandemic – what was safe – what wasn’t safe – wearing masks. Cancelling a scrapbooking weekend which is something we had never done before. I missed going out to eat, just running to the store to go shopping because I needed something and people in general.

Washi tape, small sticker letters and die cuts if you are a paper crafter of any kid you probably have plenty. If you don’t have any these are easily found in most craft stores, or even the craft supply section of Walmart or target.

Another thing I did was print out funny meme’s on sticker paper and add to the journal. I have several pages like these with full themes and others randomly placed. I am a Star Trek fan and there were plenty of those to choose from. Sadly not so much with Stargate SG-1.

Really the sky is the limit. I have other pages that are more hand written notes and journaling. Starting with the day they closed schools and the last day I was in the office for over a year. I have sticker sheets with peel and stick words (used above).

I’d love to hear what you did to journal through the pandemic. Now that I have done this, I plan to continue with fun things I do with my friends and family going forward.

Creating a journaling routine can seem challenging at first if you have never done it before. Essentially you have to carve out a few min every day to sit and journal. There are a few guidelines though that can make it easier to create a habit.

1) Pick a time that tends to be your quiet time of the day. If mornings are busy getting off to work and getting kids off to school, trying to add journaling in then will never work. Maybe you carve out a few quiet moments at lunch or before dinner. For me my quiet time is in the evening before bed. I like to read and have some quiet moments. This is the best time for me to do my gratitude journaling.

2) Find a journal book style and pen you really like. There are lots of sizes to choose from. If you want to be able to take it on the go, get something small enough to fit in your purse. A bigger size will work if you plan to leave it at home. Think about how you like to write – do you like lines, unlined, artwork? It may take a few attempts to really figure out what you prefer.

3) Make it a habit. It takes 21 days to create a habit. So make a commitment to yourself to spend 10-15 minutes a day on your journaling no matter what for the next month.

4) Be Flexible. If you try evening and you fall asleep instead of journaling, try a different time. Wish your journal had lines? Or artwork? You can draw in lines or add stickers to decorate it.

5) Expect the Unexpected. It may take a few attempts to really feel like you can make journaling stick.

6) If you already journal and just want to add gratitude journaling you can create a separate journal or just incorporate daily gratitude into your existing progress.

It’s ok to make mistakes, to try and try again to find what works. There is no right or wrong way to journal. The ultimate key is finding what works for you. If you stop for a while (sometimes life happens) it’s OK to pick up where you left off.

My personal goal it so spend a few minutes every evening with my gratitude journal. Like many people there are challenging days that make it difficult to get started on those days I use some simple prompts help me get started.

To jump start my gratitude journaling I created a list of gratitude prompts. I keep mine in a small covered decorative box. When I am tired or feeling stressed looking at my list can help get me started.

As a family project – or for yourself, you can create a jar or box of gratitude prompts by writing out something you are grateful for or thought provoking questions about what you should be grateful for. This can be done on plain or decorative paper.

Some ideas to write on your prompts:

1. Who in my family am I grateful for?

2. Which of my friends am I grateful for?

3. What one thing about my home am I grateful for?

4. What freedom do I take for granted?

5. What book has inspired me?

6. I appreciate the following things about my job or work

7. The thing I love most about where I live is. . .

8. I am grateful for access to healthy and delicious food.

9. I am grateful for a positive aspect of today’s weather.

10. I’m grateful for ____which has taught me ________

11. One simple pleasure I value is

12. One of my most worthwhile purchases has been

13. One of my greatest life lessons.

14. Name one skill I have that makes me special

15. One thing I appreciate about myself is.

16. A few things I appreciate about mornings/evenings

17. One disappointment that turned out to be a blessing was?

18. One person I know I can count on is?

19. My favorite thing about coming home at the end of the day

20. One of the best things about being married/single/in a relationship

21. One piece of technology I am grateful for

22. One way I have bettered myself in the past month

23. One piece of advice or a quote that has stayed with me.

24. The best part of today was

25. Looking around me right now, I am grateful for

26. One thing I love about my daily schedule

27. One life hack I have picked up that makes my life easier

28. An everyday item that I depend on but rarely am grateful for

29. I wouldn’t be where I am today without this individuals help and support

30. How did I help someone today?

As a fun alternative write these on shaped paper. This would look especially nice in a clear glass or plastic jar.

Place your jar or box some place you will have easy access to it. Sometime it will just help to see your jar other times pull out one or two slips of paper to get your creative juices flowing.

Don’t get frustrated with yourself if you miss a day, or a week, life happens. Simply pick up where you left off.